So Christian, who had been so easily persuaded to follow the advice of Worldly Wiseman, turned aside. The way to the hill that had been pointed out to him seemed much longer and more difficult than he had expected to find it, but he kept on till he reached the foot of the hill. It was, however, so steep that he was afraid to climb it, and besides that he noticed that the side of it nearest the road was so overhanging that he was afraid it would fall upon him and crush him at any minute.
As he stood looking at the hill he saw flashes of fire coming out of it, and he was more afraid than he had been before. How he wished he had never met Mr. Worldly Wiseman, and he saw how wrong and foolish he had been in following his counsel. But help was nearer than he had dared to hope for or expect, for on looking up he saw Evangelist coming toward him.
His face was grave, and his voice was sad and low as he said, "What doest thou here, Christian?" The pilgrim, not knowing what answer to give, stood silent and trembling before Evangelist, who asked another question: "Art thou not the man whom I saw not long ago weeping just outside the walls of the City of Destruction?"
"Yes, sir, I am that man," said Christian, still trembling.
"Did I not direct thee," said Evangelist, "the way to the Wicket-Gate?"
"Yes, sir" was all poor Christian had courage to say.
"How is it, then, that thou art so quickly turned aside, for thou art now quite out of the way."
Christian began to tell his story by saying that almost as soon as he got out of the Slough of Despond he met one who told him that in the village on the brow of the hill he would find a man who could and would relieve him of his burden. He had, he confessed, been persuaded to turn aside from the straight and narrow way which Evangelist had pointed out to him, but when he got to the foot of the hill and saw how it seemed about to fall, a great fear came over him, so great that he could not take another step.
Then said Evangelist: "Listen to the Word of God: 'Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, My soul shall have no pleasure in him' (Heb. 10:3838Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. (Hebrews 10:38))."
He then faithfully spoke to him of the folly and danger of listening to such advice as had been given to him by Mr. Worldly Wiseman, who was, he said, not only a stranger to the grace of God, but one who appeared to take a great delight in turning pilgrims out of their way.
On being told what he had already begun to think, that Worldly Wiseman was no true friend to him, Christian was greatly distressed, and falling at the feet of Evangelist cried out, "Woe is me, for I am undone!"
Evangelist raised him up, and as he did so repeated a promise from the Word of God, "'All manner of sin... shall be forgiven unto men' (Matt. 12:3131Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. (Matthew 12:31))," and added, " 'Be not faithless, but believing' (John 20:2727Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. (John 20:27))."
Christian then said, "May I still hope for mercy?" He owned he had been wrong in leaving the straight way to the Wicket-Gate that had been pointed out to him, but if not too late he would gladly retrace his steps, and he hoped he should not find the gate closed against him.
Evangelist bade him go and assured him that the gate would not be closed against any who humbly sought permission to enter. And though still trembling, but making all the speed he could, Christian again got into the path that he had left to follow the counsel of Worldly Wiseman. As he came in sight of the gate he saw some words written in large letters above it, and going still nearer he was able to read, "KNOCK, AND IT SHALL BE OPENED UNTO YOU." Greatly encouraged, he knocked, saying:
"May I now enter here? Will He within
Open to sinful me, though I have but
An unbecoming robe? Then shall I
Not fail to sing His saving power on high."
After waiting a little while, a grave person, whose name was Goodwill, came to the gate and asked who was there, where he came from, and what he wanted.
Christian made answer, "Here is a poor burdened sinner who comes from the City of Destruction, for I would escape from the wrath to come; I have been told that by this gate is the way to the Celestial City, and I would know if you are willing to let me in?"
Goodwill replied, "Yes, I am willing with all my heart," and as he spoke he opened the gate.
Just as Christian was stepping over the threshold, Goodwill gave him a pull, and when Christian asked him why he did so, Goodwill told him that not far from the gate a strong castle had been built, the captain of which was a great enemy to the Prince of Peace, and he, with his servants, was constantly employed in shooting arrows at pilgrims as they approached the gate, so it was well to get them safely inside.